Ordinary Women, Not

Shelly Gail Morris
Zumaya Publications  (2003)
ISBN 1894869958
Reviewed by Kelli Glesige for Reader Views (6/06)

Shelly Gail Morris has written a collection of 17 short, fictional stories about some remarkably unique women, each with special qualities and circumstances and an interesting tale of splendor, certain to entertain.  “Ordinary Women, Not” would be perfect for the busy woman who longingly pines to read a good fiction novel but who has too little time to do so.  All the stories included in this collection can be read in a minimum amount of time, and the stories will leave you thinking about what you have read.  The tales are definitely intriguing!

 Morris has divided her book of 241 pages into four categories of stories: Getting a Grip, Getting It On, Getting Real, and, Getting Over It.  Each category contains a few stories relevant to the overall theme.  In Getting a Grip, Sue experiences healing in The Spirit of Sadie.  Fantasies come to life in Tarzan and Jane in the section, Getting It On.  It is here also where you will find new mother, Janice, who desires a nose job but whose pastor husband, Abraham tells her she is beautiful just as she is.  In Getting Real, we find college student and waitress, Melanie. The coed witnesses a murder and cleverly devises a plan to secure a large amount of money to gain custody of younger sister, Sara.  We also meet Divine and Mystic who work at the Purple Pancake Palace in the story, Divine Intervention.  And, in Getting Over It, we meet the timid Arabella who faces reality and conquers her fears upon visiting Salem, Massachusetts, home of the Salem Witch Trials of the 1600’s.

I enjoyed the interesting and unique names that Morris gave her characters, especially Mitsy, Esmeralda, Magnolia, Cassidy and Daphne, to name a few.  We also find a myriad of personality types in the ladies, going from the flamboyant to the fainthearted.  These females are definitely NOT ordinary, but extraordinary.  The women also go to some very interesting places.  I loved the spunkiness of the ladies in all the stories.  From Divine, the ex-Las Vegas showgirl, Barbie the photographer and Ken the baseball player, to Alma the contrary old lady, I found myself enjoying them all!

 I recommend “Ordinary Women, Not”, to mature women who want to get absorbed quickly into a good and meaningful short story.  You will not be disappointed in these ladies, and with the variety of stories, you are sure to relate to at least one of these brave spirited females!

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